The Global South Fellowship Program is a visiting fellowship jointly run by the University of Birmingham (UK) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (USA) under their BRIDGE partnership. It supports the professional development of early-career researchers based at universities in the Global South, giving them campus time to learn how research, training, and administration are organised at a large research university and to build lasting collaborations. Fellows spend up to three funded months at one of the two host institutions. The program welcomes work on education access and equity, global health, and sustainability and climate action, with some flexibility beyond those themes. It was launched in late 2024 and ran a 2026–27 cycle; applications for that cycle closed on 29 May 2026.
Benefits & funding
- Travel expenses of up to £850 (or up to US$1,500 for fellows travelling to Illinois).
- Monthly stipend of £1,500 for up to three months, to help cover living costs and accommodation.
- On-campus accommodation can be arranged and the cost deducted from the stipend, subject to availability.
- Access to the research environment, mentorship, and collaboration networks of both partner universities.
Eligibility
- Early-career researchers based at a university in the Global South.
- Applicants must have completed a doctorate (PhD) to be eligible.
- No fixed nationality list is published; the requirement is affiliation with a Global South university.
- Research aligned with education access and equity, global health, or sustainability and climate action is preferred, with some flexibility.
Can you apply?
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Education required
PhD
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Application process
- 1Identify a potential host by searching the staff directories of Birmingham or Illinois for researchers whose work aligns with yours.
- 2Contact prospective hosts directly to confirm their willingness to host your fellowship.
- 3Prepare your application around a clear research and collaboration plan for the visit.
- 4Submit the application form before the published deadline (29 May 2026 for the 2026–27 cycle).
- 5Await results, released in late summer (late August 2026 for the 2026–27 cycle).
Program timeline
29 May 2026
Application deadline (2026–27 cycle)
Results announced
Late August 2026
Fellowship period (three funded months within this window)
July 2026 – June 2027